U.S. patent application number 15/805235 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-24 for electrical connector.
The applicant listed for this patent is LOTES CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Xiao Feng, Bo Zeng.
Application Number | 20180145462 15/805235 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59083209 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180145462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feng; Xiao ; et al. |
May 24, 2018 |
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
An electrical connector includes an insulating body, multiple
terminals, a metal member, and a metal shell. The insulating body
has a base and a tongue extending forward from the base. The
terminals are fixed in the base and exposed to upper and lower
surfaces of the tongue. The terminals include at least one ground
terminal. The metal member is fixed on the insulating body. The
metal member bends backward and extends to form an elastic arm. The
elastic arm presses the ground terminal. The elastic arm has a
protrusion portion, and the protrusion portion is higher than the
top surface of the base. The metal shell wraps a periphery of the
insulating body and the metal member. The protrusion portion urges
the metal shell, to enable a stable electrical connection between
the metal member and the ground terminal, so that the electrical
connector has good high frequency transmission performance.
Inventors: |
Feng; Xiao; (Keelung,
TW) ; Zeng; Bo; (Keelung, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LOTES CO., LTD |
Keelung |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
59083209 |
Appl. No.: |
15/805235 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/716 20130101;
H01R 13/6596 20130101; H01R 13/6585 20130101; H01R 13/6597
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/6597 20060101
H01R013/6597 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 23, 2016 |
CN |
201621254414.8 |
Claims
1. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulating body, having
a base and a tongue extending forward from the base; a plurality of
terminals, fixed in the base and exposed to upper and lower
surfaces of the tongue, and comprising at least one ground
terminal; a metal member fixed on the insulating body, wherein the
metal member bends backward and extends to form an elastic arm, the
elastic arm presses the at least one ground terminal, the elastic
arm is provided with a protrusion portion, and the protrusion
portion is higher than a top surface of the base; and a metal
shell, wrapping a periphery of the insulating body and the metal
member, the protrusion portion urging the metal shell.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the metal shell
comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls connecting
the top wall and the bottom wall, and the protrusion portion urges
the top wall.
3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a rear side of the
base is provided with at least one escaping slot, the at least one
ground terminal is partially exposed to the escaping slot, and the
elastic arm presses the ground terminal via the escaping slot.
4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the elastic arm
extends upward from the metal member and then bends downward and
extends to form a first bending portion, and the protrusion portion
is located at a bending position of the first bending portion.
5. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the elastic arm
bends downward from the first bending portion and extends to form a
second bending portion, and the second bending portion is located
in the escaping slot.
6. The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the second bending
portion is formed by bending toward a direction away from a rear
end surface of the base.
7. The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the elastic arm
bends forward from a tail end of the second bending portion and
extends to form an arc-shaped portion, and the arc-shaped portion
presses the at least one ground terminal.
8. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein a tail end of the
arc-shaped portion extends to a direction away from the at least
one ground terminal.
9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the metal member
has a first section located on the tongue, a second section located
on the base, and a vertical section connecting the first section
and the second section, the second section is higher than the first
section, and the elastic arm extends backward from the second
section.
10. The electrical connector of claim 9, wherein the protrusion
portion is higher than the second section.
11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the top surface
of the base is recessed with a first groove, and the second section
is clamped in the first groove.
12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein a front end
surface of the base is recessed with a second groove, the second
groove is in communication with the first groove, and the vertical
section is clamped in the second groove.
13. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein a chamfer is
provided at a connecting position of the first groove and the
second groove.
14. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the terminals are
arranged in an upper row and a lower row on the insulating body,
two of the terminals at outermost side of the terminals in the
upper row are both the ground terminals, and the elastic arm
extends along two sides of the top surface of the base to press the
two ground terminals at the outermost side.
15. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a width of the
elastic arm tapers in an extending direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority to and
benefit of, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a), Patent Application No.
201621254414.8 filed in P.R. China on Nov. 23, 2016, the entire
content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector,
and more particularly to an electrical connector with good high
frequency transmission performance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An existing universal serial bus (USB) Type-C electrical
connector usually includes an insulating body, multiple terminals
accommodated in the insulating body, a metal member, and a metal
shell. The terminals include a differential signal terminal for
transmitting a high frequency signal and a ground terminal, and are
used to be soldered on a circuit board. The metal member is mounted
and fixed on the insulating body and located at the outer side of
the terminals. The metal shell wraps outside the insulating body,
and is used to be soldered on the circuit board. The metal member
and the ground terminal are conducted via an elastic arm for
grounding, and the metal member is used for shielding noise signals
at the surrounding of the terminals. However, since the contact
between the elastic arm and the ground terminal is unstable and an
assembling gap may inevitably exist during the assembly of the
metal member and the metal shell, the elastic arm is unable to
firmly urge the metal shell, so that the grounding effect of the
metal member is not good and it is unable to have a good shielding
impact on the terminals, and thereby the electrical connector
cannot obtain good high frequency transmission performance.
[0004] Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art
to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect, the present invention relates to an
electrical connector with good high frequency transmission
performance.
[0006] In certain embodiments, an electrical connector includes an
insulating body, multiple terminals, a metal member, and a metal
shell. The insulating body has a base and a tongue extending
forward from the base. The terminals are fixed in the base and
exposed to upper and lower surfaces of the tongue. The terminals
include at least one ground terminal. The metal member is fixed on
the insulating body. The metal member bends and extends backward to
form an elastic arm, and the elastic arm presses the ground
terminal. The elastic arm is provided with a protrusion portion,
and the protrusion portion is higher than the top surface of the
base. The metal shell wraps a periphery of the insulating body and
the metal member, and the protrusion portion urges the metal
shell.
[0007] In certain embodiments, the metal shell includes a top wall,
a bottom wall, and two side walls connecting the top wall and the
bottom wall, and the protrusion portion urges the top wall.
[0008] In certain embodiments, the rear side of the base is
provided with at least one escaping slot. The ground terminal is
partially exposed to the escaping slot, and the elastic arm presses
the ground terminal via the escaping slot.
[0009] In certain embodiments, the elastic arm extends upward from
the metal member and then bends downward and extends to form a
first bending portion. The protrusion portion is located at a
bending position of the first bending portion.
[0010] In certain embodiments, the elastic arm bends downward from
the first bending portion and extends to form a second bending
portion, and the second bending portion is located in the escaping
slot.
[0011] In certain embodiments, the second bending portion is formed
by bending to a direction away from a rear end surface of the
base.
[0012] In certain embodiments, the elastic arm bends forward from a
free tail end of the second bending portion and extends to form an
arc-shaped portion, and the arc-shaped portion presses the ground
terminal.
[0013] In certain embodiments, a free tail end of the arc-shaped
portion extends to a direction away from the ground terminal.
[0014] In certain embodiments, the metal member has a first section
located on the tongue, a second section located on the base and a
vertical section connecting the first section and the second
section. The second section is higher than the first section, and
the elastic arm extends backward from the second section.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the protrusion portion is higher
than the second section.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the top surface of the base is
recessed with a first groove, and the second section is clamped in
the first groove.
[0017] In certain embodiments, a front end surface of the base is
recessed with a second groove, the second groove is in
communication with the first groove, and the vertical section is
clamped to the second groove.
[0018] In certain embodiments, a chamfer is provided at a
connecting position of the first groove and the second groove.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the terminals are arranged in an
upper row and a lower row on the insulating body. Two of the
terminals at the outermost side of the terminals in the upper row
are both the ground terminals, and the elastic arm extends along
two sides of the top surface of the base to press the two ground
terminals at the outermost side.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the width of the elastic arm tapers
in the extending direction.
[0021] Compared with the related art, certain embodiments of the
present invention have the following beneficial advantages. The
metal member is provided with an elastic arm to press the ground
terminal, the elastic arm is provided with a protrusion portion,
and the protrusion portion urges the metal shell. The protrusion
portion is higher than the top surface of the base, and the metal
shell interferes with and pushes the protrusion portion downward,
so as to enable a stable electrical connection between the metal
member and the ground terminal, and enhance the shielding effect of
the electrical connector. In addition, the metal member is in
contact with the ground terminal via the metal shell for grounding,
which makes the metal member be grounding stably, so that good
shielding protection can be performed on signal transmission of the
multiple terminals and the resonance is reduced, which enables the
electrical connector to have good high frequency transmission
performance.
[0022] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment
taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although
variations and modifications therein may be effected without
departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments
of the invention and together with the written description, serve
to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to
the same or like elements of an embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of an
electrical connector according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional partial exploded
view of an electrical connector according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic three-dimensional view of an
electrical connector according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an electrical connector from
another angle according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a component view of an electrical connector
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an electrical connector
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The present invention is more particularly described in the
following examples that are intended as illustrative only since
numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are
now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers
indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in
the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have
no influence on the scope of the present invention.
[0031] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element
or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast,
when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another
element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein,
the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more
of the associated listed items.
[0032] Furthermore, relative terms, such as "lower" or "bottom" and
"upper" or "top," may be used herein to describe one element's
relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It
will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation
depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the
figures is turned over, elements described as being on the "lower"
side of other elements would then be oriented on "upper" sides of
the other elements. The exemplary term "lower", can therefore,
encompasses both an orientation of "lower" and "upper," depending
of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the
device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as
"below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above"
the other elements. The exemplary terms "below" or "beneath" can,
therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.
[0033] As used herein, "around", "about" or "approximately" shall
generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and
more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range.
Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the
term "around", "about" or "approximately" can be inferred if not
expressly stated.
[0034] As used herein, the terms "comprising", "including",
"carrying", "having", "containing", "involving", and the like are
to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not
limited to.
[0035] The description will be made as to the embodiments of the
present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
FIGS. 1-6. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as
embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one
aspect, relates to an electrical connector.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as one preferable embodiment, the
electrical connector 100 of the present invention is used for being
mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The electrical connector
100 includes an insulating body 1, multiple terminals 2 received in
the insulating body 1 and arranged in an upper row and a lower row
on the insulating body 1, a shielding sheet 3 disposed in the
insulating body 1 and located between the upper and lower rows of
the terminals 2, a metal member 4 fixed on the insulating body 1,
and a metal shell 5 wrapping the outer side of the insulating body
1.
[0037] The metal shell 5 encloses to form a mating cavity arranged
180 degrees symmetrically to wrap the insulating body 1. The metal
shell 5 has multiple ground soldering pins correspondingly soldered
on the circuit board. The metal shell 5 has a top wall 51, a bottom
wall 52 and two side walls 53 connecting the top wall 51 and the
bottom wall 52.
[0038] The insulating body 1 has a base 11 and a tongue 12
extending forward from the base 11. The base 11 is relatively wide
and large, while the tongue 12 is relatively narrow and long. The
top surface of the base 11 is recessed downward with an escaping
slot 111. The escaping slot 111 is located at the rear side of the
top surface of the base 11. The top surface of the base 11 is
further recessed downward with a first groove 112. In this
embodiment, there are two of the first grooves 112 respectively
located at two sides of the top surface of the base 11. A front end
surface of the base 11 is concavely provided backward with a second
groove 113, and the second groove 113 is in communication with the
first groove 112. A chamfer 114 is provided at a connecting
position of the first groove 112 and the second groove 113 at one
of the two sides of the top surface of the base 11.
[0039] The terminals 2 include at least one ground terminal 21. In
this embodiment, there are four of the ground terminals 21
respectively located in the upper row and the lower row, and two of
the terminals 2 at the outermost side of the terminals 2 in the
upper row are both the ground terminals 21. In other embodiments,
there may be one or more ground terminals 21, as long as it is
ensured that the ground terminal(s) 21 can be in contact with the
metal member 4. In this embodiment, each row has 12 terminals 2,
and the 12 terminals 2 located in the upper row and the 12
terminals 2 located in the lower row are in a left-and-right
opposite arrangement order and in an up-and-down symmetrical
arrangement mode, and the transmitted signals are the same. The
arrangement order from left to right of the multiple terminals 2 in
the upper row is sequentially a ground terminal (GND) 21, a
differential signal high-speed transmission terminal pair (TX1+,
TX1-, i.e., a USB3.0 terminal 2) 2, a power terminal (Vbus) 2, a
reserved terminal 2 (CC1), a USB2.0 differential terminal pair
(Dp1, Dn1) 2, a reserved terminal (SBU1) 2, a power terminal (Vbus)
2, a differential signal high-speed receiving terminal pair (RX2+,
RX2-) 2, and a ground terminal (GND) 21, i.e., the two terminals 2
at the outermost side of the multiple terminals 2 in the upper row
are both the ground terminals 21; and the arrangement order from
right to left of the multiple terminals 2 in the lower row is
sequentially a ground terminal (GND) 21, a differential signal
high-speed transmission terminal pair (TX2+, TX2-, i.e., a USB3.0
terminal 2) 2, a power terminal (Vbus) 2, a reserved terminal (CC2)
2, a USB2.0 differential terminal pair (Dp2, Dn2) 2, a reserved
terminal (SBU2) 2, a power terminal (Vbus) 2, a differential signal
high-speed receiving terminal pair (RX1+, RX1-) 2, and a ground
terminal (GND) 21, i.e., the two terminals 2 at the outermost side
of the multiple terminals 2 in the lower row are both the ground
terminals 21. The multiple terminals 2 located in the upper and
lower rows on the insulating body 1 are arranged in such a way that
the electrical connector 100 can implement a function of being
inserted in dual orientation.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the terminal 2 is fixed
in the base 11, and a front part of each terminal 2 has a contact
portion 211 exposed to the upper or lower surfaces of the tongue 12
for guiding and connecting with a mating connector (not shown).
Each terminal 2 extends horizontally backward, from the contact
portion 211, a connecting portion 212. The connecting portion 212
is fixed at the rear end of the tongue 12 and extends to the base
11. Each terminal 2 further has a soldering arm 213 bends
vertically and extends backward from the connecting portion 212,
and a soldering portion 214 extending from the tail end of the
soldering arm 213 and extending out of the escaping slot 111, for
being soldered on the circuit board. The soldering portion 214 of
the ground terminal 21 is soldered on a ground path of the circuit
board.
[0041] The shielding sheet 3 is formed by punching a sheet metal,
and includes a plate portion 31 provided on the tongue 12 and
located between the contact portions 211 and the connecting
portions 212 of the upper rows of the terminals 2 and the lower
rows of the terminals 2. Each of the two side edges of the plate
portion 31 is respectively concavely provided with a clamping slot
32 to clamp the mating connector. Each of the two sides of the rear
end of the plate portion 31 is respectively provided with a fixing
pin 33. The fixing pins 33 respectively extend backward from the
rear end of the plate portion 31 and then bend downward and extend
out of the bottom surface of the base 11, and the two fixing pins
33 are soldered on the circuit board. An elastic piece 34 is
downward provided at the rear side of the shielding sheet 3, and
the elastic piece 34 presses the corresponding ground terminal 21.
A protrusion block 35 is downward provided at the front side of the
shielding sheet 3 in a protruding manner, and the protrusion block
35 presses the corresponding ground terminal 21. The protrusion
block 35 and the elastic piece 34 presses the same ground terminal
21. In this embodiment, the left and right sides of the shielding
sheet 3 are respectively provided with one protrusion block 35 and
one elastic piece 34. Therefore, interference signals between the
upper and lower rows of terminals 2 are shielded, so as to enhance
the shielding effect of the electrical connector 100.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the metal member 4 is fixed at the
position, near the base 11, on the tongue 12 and partially extends
to the base 11, and the metal member 4 is of a metal material.
[0043] In this embodiment, the metal member 4 includes a first
metal member 40 and a second metal member 40'. The first metal
member 40 is located at an upper side of the insulating body 1, the
second metal member 40' is located at a lower side of the
insulating body 1, and the terminals 2 in the upper and lower rows
are located between the first metal member 40 and the second metal
member 40', i.e., the first metal member 40 is located at an upper
side of the upper row of terminals 2, while the second metal member
40' is located at a lower side of the lower row of terminals 2. The
first metal member 40 has a first section 41 located on the tongue
12, a second section 42 located on the base 11 and a vertical
section 43 connecting the first section 41 and the second section
42. The second section 42 is higher than the first section 41. The
second section 42 is clamped to the first groove 112, and the
vertical section 43 is clamped to the second groove 113. A
connecting position of the second section 42 and the vertical
section 43 is located on the chamfer 114 at a connecting position
of the first groove 112 and the second groove 113 at the one side
of the top surface of the base 11. The metal member 4 bends
backward and extends to form an elastic arm 44, and the elastic arm
44 presses the corresponding ground terminal 21. In certain
embodiments, the elastic arm 44 extends along two sides of the top
surface of the base 11 to press the two ground terminals 21 at the
outermost side. The elastic arm 44 is provided with a protrusion
portion 444, and the protrusion portion 444 is higher than the top
surface of the base 11. The protrusion portion 444 urges the metal
shell 5. In this embodiment, preferably, the elastic arm 44 extends
upward from the second section 42 and then bends downward and
extends to form a first bending portion 441, and the protrusion
portion 444 is located at a bending position of the first bending
portion 441. The protrusion portion 444 is higher than the second
section 42. The protrusion portion 444 urges the top wall 51 of the
metal shell 5. The elastic arm 44 bends downward from the first
bending portion 441 and extends to form a second bending portion
442, and the second bending portion 442 is located in the escaping
slot 111. The second bending portion 442 is formed by bending and
extending to a direction away from a rear end surface of the base
11. The elastic arm 44 bends forward from a free tail end of the
second bending portion 442 and extends to form an arc-shaped
portion 443. The arc-shaped portion 443 presses the ground terminal
21. A free tail end of the arc-shaped portion 443 extends to a
direction away from the ground terminal 21. The width of the
elastic arm 44 tapers in the extending direction, so that the part,
at the top surface of the base 11, of the elastic arm 44 is
relatively thick and has better stability, while the part close to
the ground terminal 21 is relatively thin and is close to the width
of the ground terminal 21, which can provide better surface contact
with the ground terminal 21.
[0044] The protrusion portion 444 is higher than the top surface of
the base 11 and urges the top wall 51 of the metal shell 5, and a
top wall of the metal shell 5 interferes with and pushes the
protrusion portion 444 downwards, so that the elastic arm 44 may
have better contact with the ground terminal 21. In addition, the
second bending portion 442 is located in the escaping slot 111 to
avoid backward movement of the elastic arm 44, so that the
arc-shaped portion 443 is in good contact with the ground terminal
21.
[0045] In summary, the electrical connector 100 component according
to certain embodiments of the present invention, among other
things, has the following beneficial advantages.
[0046] (1) The metal member 4 is provided with an elastic arm 44 to
press the ground terminal 21, the elastic arm 44 is provided with a
protrusion portion 444, and the protrusion portion 444 is higher
than the top surface of the base 11 and urges the metal shell 5.
The metal shell 5 may interfere with and push the protrusion
portion 444 downward, so that the elastic arm 44 presses the ground
terminal 21 and the metal shell 5 more stably, such that the metal
member 4 can be grounded stably, thereby being able to have good
shielding protection for signal transmission of the terminals 2,
reducing resonance, and enabling the electrical connector 100 to
have good high frequency transmission performance.
[0047] (2) The ground terminals 21 are exposed to the escaping slot
111, and the elastic arm 44 presses the corresponding ground
terminal 21 via the escaping slot 111, which may reduce costs.
[0048] (3) The second bending portion 442 of the elastic arm 44 is
located in the escaping slot 111 and extends to a direction away
from a rear end surface of the base 11 to avoid backward movement
of the elastic arm 44 when the metal shell 5 interferes with and
pushes the elastic arm 44 downward, so that the elastic arm 44
presses the corresponding ground terminal 21 more stably.
[0049] (4) The arc-shaped portion 443 presses the corresponding
ground terminal 21, and a free tail end of the arc-shaped portion
443 extends to a direction away from the ground terminal 21, so
that when the metal shell 5 interferes with and pushes the elastic
arm 44 downward, the arc-shaped portion 443 is in better contact
with the ground terminal 21 in a sliding process.
[0050] (5) The width of the elastic arm 44 tapers in the extending
direction, so that the part, at the top surface of the base 11, of
the elastic arm 44 is relatively thick and has better stability,
while the part close to the ground terminal 21 is relatively thin
and is close to the width of the ground terminal 21, which can
provide better surface contact with the ground terminal 21.
[0051] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the invention has been presented only for the purposes of
illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching.
[0052] The embodiments are chosen and described in order to explain
the principles of the invention and their practical application so
as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention
and various embodiments and with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the
present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and
scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined
by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and
the exemplary embodiments described therein.
* * * * *